Gas hydrate resource potential and its exploration and development prospect of the Muli coalfield in the northeast Tibetan plateau

The Muli coalfield of Qinghai province is rich in gas hydrate, which is an important alternative energy in the post-petroleum era. The results of the preliminary exploration and estimation show that the amount of gas hydrate reaches approximately 300 million m(3) in the coalfield and surpasses 500 billion m(3) in its surrounding regions according to the calculation method used in Messoyakha gas field. The results indicate that Qilian Mountain permafrost area is extremely abundant in gas hydrate resources. Therefore, it will be rewardful to research on how to explore and exploit its gas hydrate resources in this area. In the present paper, the characteristics of structure, fault and the coal seams in Muli coalfield were analyzed; the formation condition and the stability zone of its gas hydrate were investigated; a model of "coal-formed gas hydrate" was identified and the reserves of gas hydrate in the Muli coalfield and the potential reserves of gas hydrate in its surrounding area were estimated.